Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen
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The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God
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Nuts & Bolts Issues for Small Group Leaders
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Reopening the Back Door: Answers to Questions about Ministering to Inactive Members
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Caring for Inactive Members Leader's Teaching Kit
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Employee Snapshots

Del and Ellie VanDyke: Helping to Make Training Courses a Great Experience

The Stephen Ministries family reaches far beyond our headquarters in St. Louis. Volunteers from across the country work with us to accomplish our mission of equipping people for meaningful ministry.

Del and Ellie VanDyke of Holland, Michigan, regularly volunteer their time and energy as Conference Team Members (CTMs).

Ellie and Del were long familiar with Stephen Ministries--their church has been a Stephen Series congregation since 1980. Ellie trained as a Stephen Leader in 2001 shortly after she'd retired: "Becoming a Stephen Leader was a good thing to do--it was my time."

The VanDykes gained a taste for ministry together when they traveled with their congregation to restore and repaint an old church in Brooklyn. "This was the first time we got to work together on a project like that," Ellie says. "So when we learned about volunteering with Stephen Ministries, it sounded like something we'd like to do."

Del agrees. "It was something we could do together, which was important because we'd been involved in different activities in our work lives. It was also about being able to help others and the benefits we would receive spiritually."

Ellie and Del interviewed to become volunteer CTMs in September 2003, and they worked at their first Leader's Training Course in Orlando in January 2004.

What Volunteer Conference Team Members Do

As Conference Team Members, Ellie and Del help set up the Leader's Training Course or Equipper's Training Course, keep it running smoothly, and pack everything up afterward. They help prepare meeting rooms, set up and staff the resource center, coordinate registration, answer participants' questions, prepare and distribute handouts, and handle numerous other essential tasks. They work behind the scenes to keep the training course running smoothly. "We're there to support the staff members," Ellie says. They help ensure that participants have the best learning experience possible.

CTMs work hard--even volunteer CTMs! Volunteers should "be prepared for some long hours and hard work," Ellie says. It's important that volunteer couples be physically healthy and able to give substantial time and effort--most CTM couples serve ten days three or more times each year.

Ellie and Del have been up to the challenge, and they've found the rewards immeasurable.

A Source of Personal Growth--and Growth as a Couple

Ellie and Del are happy for the chance to continue learning. "Being a CTM provides an opportunity for continual improvement," Ellie says.

At the training courses they've learned much about leadership. "It's affected our leadership in church and community," Del says, "and it gives more meaning to those responsibilities." Ellie agrees, adding, "We've become a resource for our congregation."

Del and Ellie have also grown closer in their marriage. Though they don't work side by side during the day, their work brings them together: "It's helped us develop a closer relationship with our Lord and made us closer as a couple," Del says.

Ellie agrees: "When we return in the evening, we always take the time to review what happened during the day--what went right and what we need to work on. We can always say what's on our minds."

Part of the Stephen Ministries Community

Conference Team Members enjoy a great sense of community--with conference attendees, staff members, and fellow CTMs.

Training course participants get to know the CTMs when they register, and the relationship builds throughout the conference. As Del puts it, "We meet people we helped at registration in the hall, and bonding happens. They know we're people they can talk to and ask questions of. We're always available."

Ellie and Del are glad the attendees can turn to them for assistance. "We're part of the face of Stephen Ministries," Ellie says, and both are proud to help make that face as welcoming as possible.

Their relationships with staff members have also been deeply satisfying. Del and Ellie have become closer to the staff, and they're happy to contribute to the mission of Stephen Ministries. Ellie says, "Stephen Ministries staff members are quality people, and working with them is really rewarding. I feel proud to be a part of the organization."

Working with the other volunteer CTM couples is a special joy. "I appreciate the care with which the CTMs are selected," Ellie says. "It's a real benefit to know the other people involved." The bonds among the couples are strong; Ellie notes that even after conferences, she and Del keep in touch with the other couples by e-mail twice a month. Even in such a short time enduring friendships emerge; as Del says, "When you work with these couples again, it's like you've worked with them for years. Everyone is more than happy to help when someone else is in need."

Ellie sums it up: "The Conference Team is just that--a team." And Stephen Ministries is grateful for the wonderful couples--like Del and Ellie--that help make our team effective in serving participants and making ministry happen.

Become a Volunteer Conference Team Couple!

If you and your spouse are active and in good health, and if you're willing to join our conference team members for three or four training courses (ten days each) a year, check out this opportunity for great ministry and good fellowship for couples!

Go to our volunteer opportunities page and download an application today. If you and your spouse have any questions, please call Mr. Steve Glynn at (314) 428-2600.

Join us! You'll be glad you did.

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